Model accurately predicts the movement of elite athletes to catch the ball in parabolic flight

How does a tennis player like Carlos Alcaraz decide where to run to return Novak Djokovic’s ball by just looking at the ball’s initial position? These behaviors, so common in elite athletes, are difficult to explain with current computational models, which assume that the players must continuously follow the ball with their eyes.

The anatomy of fight-ending blows and chokes in combat sports

The human body has evolved to shield its vital organs, from the brain’s hard skull and meninges to the ribs and sternum protecting the heart and lungs. Even abdominal structures are safeguarded by muscular layers. In contact sports, understanding these vulnerabilities can give competitors the edge, allowing them to take down an opponent with a knockout or submission.